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2017 Newsletter October * November * December

Volume 2 Number 4 10 Elwood Street, Frankfort, IL 60423

815-806-1694 www.topshelfquilts.com

Greetings TSQ Fans,

Summer was a Great time here at TSQ. New products. New Classes. A Mystery Quilt. A New Block of the Month. The Kindred Spirits Club II. The list goes on. Thank you for making this past quarter

such a success. It means a lot to us to have your support as we venture into new areas, improve current offerings, and attempt to make TSQ your favorite quilt store.

So, what could we do for the final quarter of 2017 that would be even better?

How about…

The Biggest Sales Event in TSQ History October 6th – 8th

It’s our Grand Introduction to BERNINA Event. There will be Great deals on BERNINA

Machines, Accessories, Fabric, and Notions. In addition, there will be a variety of hourly prizes and presentations, and someone will win a new BERNINA 330 Sewing Machine.

Judy Niemeyer/Quiltworx Trunk Show by Mary Wakeley

Mary Wakeley, Certified Judy Niemeyer Instructor. October 7th at 1pm and again at 5pm. There is

no charge but please call the shop to reserve a spot.

Jill Shaulis, Yellow Creek Studio Trunk Show and a Hexies Class

The trunk shows are scheduled for Friday, October 13th at 6pm and again Saturday, October 14th at 10am. Cost is $15.00 per person.

Jill will also be teaching English Paper Piecing (Hexies) on Friday, October 13th from 1 – 4 pm. Cost is $20 per person.

OESD Super Spree Embroidery 2 Day Event

You don’t have to be an experienced machine embroiderer to attend. You just need to show up and learn what it’s all about. For those of you who have done machine embroidery, this event will allow you to learn additional features and techniques. We provide the BERNINA embroidery machines and the materials to make 6 projects. You’ll also get a goody bag worth $250 from OESD (Oklahoma Embroidery Supply and Design). TSQ’s Super Spree is Saturday, October 21 and Sunday, October 22, at the Holiday in Matteson Convention Center from 9 – 5 both days. Cost: $129.

Tips and Tricks with Patty C.

Starting Monday October 2nd from 12pm – 12:30pm, Patty will be sharing information on products used in the sewing, quilting, and embroidery world. Do you understand what the numbers mean on the thread you buy? Or on the needles you use? How about which stabilizer is best for a certain project? Twice a month she will present a new topic. Cost is $5 but you will receive a $5 coupon for purchases made that day.

TSQ Fall Quilting Retreat - Only 4 seats left.

Retreat is November 9th thru 12th.Total cost is $180. This covers the cost of the meeting room, lunches on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and a continental breakfast on Sunday. Rooms at the Holiday Inn Matteson are $89 a night for participants.

Scrap Bag Challenge Quilts

You have until October 15th at 1pm to buy your tickets. Tickets are $1 each, or 6 for $5. We have 2 quilts in the raffle. That’s 2 chances to win! The proceeds will go to the Children’s Heart Foundation.

That’s some of the highlights. Now turn the page and see what else is happening at TSQ.

Hours

Sun: 12-4, Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri: 10-5, Wed: 10-7, Sat: 10-4

Scrap Bag Challenge

Quilts

PLUS

THEN

ONGOING

NEW

AND

Ron

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Tips & Tricks with Patty C.

This will be a sharing of information on products used in sewing, quilting and embroidery. For example, October 2nd will be “Threads”, October 16th will be “Needles” and November 6th will be “Stabilizers”. Topics for other dates are to be determined.

Dates: 1st and 3rd Mondays of each Month, Noon—12:30pm Cost: $5 — you will receive a $5 coupon to be used in the store that day.

Hobo Bag with Gloria H. Got lots of left over batting! How about 2 1/2” fabric strips? Here’s a couple of practical and sweet hobo style bags to use them up! Approximate sizes are 16”w x 15”h x 6”d for the large size and 11”w x 9”h x 3”d for the small size. Dates: Wednesdays, October 4 and 11, 6pm—9pm; Level: Confident Beginner Cost $30

Ryan’s Case for Smiles Pillowcases with Paula M.

Ryan’s Case for Smiles is one of the few volunteer organizations dedicated to Help Kids Feel Better to Heal Better. Please come and join us! Donate just a little bit of time to sew a few pillowcases for kids in the hospital!!

Bring your sewing machine and sewing supplies; we will have pillowcase kits here for you to sew into pillowcases. Not everyone has to be a “sewer” - “cutters” and “pressers” are also welcome.

Dates: Thursdays, October 5 and/or November 2, 10am-5pm; Level: Anyone Cost: Free - just call to reserve a seat Pillow case kits are also available at TSQ to sew at home. Just ask the staff.

Beginning Patchwork Quilting with Chris W.

Interested in Patchwork and Quilting but not sure where to start? Made a few things, but want to brush up on your skills and see what else you might like to try? Let’s begin with some traditional blocks to build your skills to make a throw sized quilt. We’ll start easy and then advance into many of the techniques used in the most popular quilt patterns. You’ll gain the confidence to accomplish anything. Choose your fabrics for the child in your life, a guy you want to keep warm, your favorite holiday, or something to match your couch! We will meet five times, usually two weeks apart. You will have home-fun (not homework) sewing to do in between classes.

Dates: Sundays, October 1, 15, November 5, 19, and December 3, 9am—Noon Cost: $100

Quiltworx Trunk Show with Mary Wakeley

Quiltworx is a Judy Niemeyer Quilting Company and it is a family owned and operated business. Judy’s first patterns were created to be used as teaching tools to assist her in teaching, what was to her a new technique called Foundation Paper Piecing. She saw the ability in this technique for quilters with minimal previous experience to be able to create intricate and complex heirloom quality quilts. It is her desire to provide the process and support structure so that the motivation that is created by inspiration results in finished projects. Our Quiltworx Trunk Show presenter, Mary Wakeley, is from Ottawa, Illinois. She is certified to teach Quiltworx techniques and patterns, plus all things quilting. Mary will be showcasing quilts of all sizes. Date: Saturday, October 7, 1pm—2pm or 5pm—6pm; All Welcome, but call to reserve a seat; Cost: Free Come join Mary for an amazing Quiltworx Trunk Show!

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Yellow Creek Studio Trunk Show with Jill Shaulis Jill is a nationally known speaker, teacher and quilt enthusiast. She is also the designer of the Kindred Spirits fabric lines and the Kindred Spirits Club, featuring traditional quilts and projects. Jill and her sister have owned Yellow Creek Studio Quilts in Pearl City, Illinois for many years. They have written two books, been featured in Better Homes and Gardens Quilt Sampler and have had patterns featured in several Primitive Quilts & Projects Magazine. Dates: Friday, October 13th at 6pm or Saturday, October 14th at 10am Cost $15 Join Jill for an amazing Trunk Show!

Beginning Sewing for Kids with Joanne S. Come and learn the basics of sewing with a sewing machine. You will make a pillowcase out of fabrics of your choosing. We will provide the sewing machines. Minimum age: 8 years old. Dates: Wednesdays, October 18, or November 15, or December 6, 5pm—7pm Cost: $29 — Includes Fabric for pillow case.

Operation Care Package: Making Gifts for our Troops with Pam S Join Top Shelf Quilts in helping Operation Care Package by sewing draw string Shower and Gift Bags, Neck Coolers and Christmas Stockings for our troops. Operation Care Package will then add personal care items and ship them to our deployed troops.

Complete kits are ready for you at the shop. Kits can be completed on your own OR you are invited to a Operation Care Package Sew Day at TSQ. Bring your machine and sewing tools, stay a couple of hours or stay all day. We will have kits, mats and irons, etc. for your use on Sew Days. We will be serving snacks, lunch and Chocolate!

Dates: Thursdays, October 19, November 16, and December 14, 10am—5pm All Welcome, just call to reserve your seat. Cost: Free

Join us as we have fun together and say “Thank You” to all those serving our country.

Kindred Spirits

Decorative Stitches—Friend or Foe? with Patty C.

Do you have a fear of the dozens and dozens of stitches available on your sewing machine? Have you tried some but become frustrated because they don't look like you thought? Then this class is for you! Learn the tips and tricks of using the many beautiful stitches on your machine. Once you learn the tricks you will assemble a small couch pillow that uses what you have learned. You will leave with a greater understanding of your machine and what wonderful things it can do! Date: Monday, October 30,1pm—4pm, Level: Beginner Cost $30

English Paper Piecing—Hexies with Jill Shaulis

Have you ever wanted to try English Paper Piecing? Have you tried it and just could not get the hang of it? Well here is your chance to learn from an expert, Jill Shaulis. English Paper Piecing, a technique of stabilizing fabric with a paper template, is a sure way to guarantee accuracy. It is most effective for designs that don't have long straight sides but do have numerous set-in corners, such as the hexagon shapes you will be using in this class.

Date: Friday, October 13, 1pm - 4pm; Level: Intermediate/Advanced Cost $20

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Sew Steady Tables

We now have Sew Steady Tables for your sewing machines, sergers, and inserts for sewing cabinets. Sew Steady Tables are portable acrylic tables that are custom made for each machine. Sew Steady Tables encompass the entire sewing arm/flatbed sewing surface. Great tables for those who free motion quilt. See picture at the top of the page.

TSQ is on Facebook and Instagram

For those of you who already follow TSQ on Facebook/Instagram you already know that we are keeping you up to date with what is happening in the store. For those of you who haven’t “liked” Top Shelf Quilts on Facebook, now is the time. You’ll see pictures of what’s happening, notices of events and videos of new items that have arrived.

Starburst Tote Bag with Gloria H. Let’s have some fun making this cheerful 3-D Starburst Bag in a multitude of bright colours. The first part is folding the triangles accurately, but once you’ve mastered this, it’s a case of colours by numbers!l We will learn to fold these triangles by using the Prairie Pointer Ruler and we will have fabulous points! Dates: Wednesdays, October 25 and November 1, 6pm—9pm Level: Confident Beginner Cost: $50

Metro Rings with Pam S. Do you have a Wedding Ring Quilt on your wish list? The Metro Rings pattern by “Sew Kind of Wonderful” creates this iconic pattern by building strip pieced arcs from strip sets and then cutting them into curves with the Quick Curve Ruler.

Date: Saturday, October 28, 1pm—4pm; Level: Confident Beginner Cost: $30

Doodle Your Way to Free Motion Quilting with Barb W.

Have you ever done Free Motion Quilting or wished you could? Just didn’t know how to start? Join us and Barb will teach you how. We will take a look at the materials/tools that will help you in learning these skills. You will leave with some easy quilting motifs to prac-tice on your own, plus resources for further creativity.

Date: Sunday, October 29, 12pm—3pm; Level: Confident Beginner Cost $30

Heritage Quilters Guild Drawing at TSQ

Buy your Quilt Raffle entry tickets from a Heritage Quilters Guild member to win the award winning quilt designed by Gail Stepanek, pieced by Guild members, and quilted by Jan Hutchinson. Then turn your tickets in at TSQ to enter our monthly drawing for prizes.

Jane Carhart was the winner for September, 2017. Jane won a 100 piece 5" charm pack of Free Spirits Modern Solids. Congratulations Jane! Check out the quilt at http://heritagequiltersguild.com

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Machine Repair and Scissor Sharpening

John is in the store on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of the month from 10 until 2. Bring in your machine and/or your scissors. John will put them back into tip top shape. Don’t forget, for every machine you have serviced you get an entry to TSQ’s quarterly drawing for prizes.

OESD Stabilizer and Patterns

For all your embroidery needs! – OESD (Oklahoma Embroidery Supply & Design) is an industry leading creator of machine embroidery designs and embroidery products. TSQ has a wide selection of OESD stabilizers, machine embroidery designs, and related notions.

Supernova Bargello Quilt with Nicole L.

This beautiful, shimmering quilt is from the book, Twist-and-Turn Bargello Quilts by Eileen Wright. Eileen's techniques use the efficiency of strip piecing to make truly mesmerizing modern designs. In this class you'll create strip sets, slice and dice them, and arrange the values using a number chart for flawless results. This quilt works well as a bedspread on a double bed, but will also fit a queen-sized bed. Add a border for a king-size quilt.

Dates: Wednesdays, November 8 and 29, 6pm - 8:30pm Level: Intermediate/Advanced Cost: $50

Enjoy creating this quilt with the guidance of Nicole!

One Block Wonder Quilt with Gloria H. The One Block Wonder is a beautiful quilt. You will love this unusual method of designing and creating quilts. Instead of starting with a particular pattern or design and then trying to find fabric that will fit that pattern, this approach begins with the fabric: The fabric is the key element. Kaleidoscope blocks – each one unique – are produced by aligning the printed design on several layers of fabric and then cutting and sewing triangles together. Just as the mirrors in a kaleidoscope reflect and re-peat an image, each triangle repeats color and pattern to create a new design for each block. Once all the blocks are made, you begin to design your quilt. Dates: Sundays, November 26 and December 10, 3pm—6:30 pm Level: Confident Beginner/Intermediate Quilter Cost: $55 Join Gloria and make this one of a kind quilt. The end results are limitless!

Autumn Pines with Mary Wakeley, Certified Quiltworx Instructor

Sign up today for this Judy Niemeyer/Quiltworx Class taught by Mary Wakeley. Judy and Brad Niemeyer designed the layout, instructions and foundation papers for the Autumn Pines. You’ll use both Foundation Paper Piecing and Foundation Strip Piecing to assemble the units required to make this quilt. Traditional piecing and curved piecing techniques are then used to join the units together. The finished quilt is 46” x 46”.

Dates: Saturdays, November 4 and 18, 10am - 4pm Level: Intermediate/Advanced Cost: $60

Mystery Quilt by Debra Caffrey – Two months to go until the big reveal.

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BERNINA Sewing and Embroidery Classes

TSQ is now offering basic sewing and embroidery classes. We are also offering more specific classes on BERNINA embroidery, creative techniques with feet, updates to the BERNINA Firmware, and training on the newest features and machines available.

Sunday Sew, Saturday Sew, and Friday Madness cost

participants $5.00. Call ahead to reserve your seat.

There will be a door prize and all purchases will be

15% off.

Sunday Sew Noon - 5pm

October 1, November 5, December 3

Saturday Sew 10am - 4pm

October 14 11am - 4pm, November 11, December 9

Friday Madness 4pm - 10:30pm

October 20, November 17, December 15

Open Sew Every Tuesday 10am - 5pm

Sew Together Dates

To Our Customers Taking Classes

It is imperative that you have: A sewing machine in good working order. A 1/4” foot for your machine or a very accurate marking for the 1/4”. A good working knowledge of how your machine operates; and, A copy of your machine’s manual, if possible.

Block of the Month Dates

Other Important Dates

Bernina Grand Introduction

• October 6, 7, 8 Quiltworx Trunk Show with Mary Wakeley

• October 7 @ 1pm and 5pm Yellow Creek Studio Trunk Show with Jill Shaulis

• October 13 @ 6pm

• October 14 @ 10am OESD Super Spree Event

• October 21 and 22, 9am—5pm TSQ Fall Quilting Retreat

• November 9, 10, 11, 12 Black Friday Sale

• November 24 Small Business Saturday Sale

• November 25 Operation Care Package Sew Days

• October 19, 10am—5pm

• November 16, 10am—5pm

• December 14, 10am—5pm Ryan’s Case for Smiles Pillowcases

• October 5, 10am—5pm

• November 2, 10am—5pm Machine Cleaning & Repair by John

• 2nd and 4th Thursdays of every month

• November 23 moved to November 30

Getting to Know Hue

• October 14 @ 9:30

• November 11 @ 9:30

• December 9 @ 9:30 Kindred Spirits Club—Pick-Up

• October 14 @ 9:30

• November 11 @ 9:30

• December 9 @ 9:30 Mystery Quilt—Instruction Pick-Up

• October 7

• November 4

No fees, discounts, food or prizes provided—just the fun of sewing and socializing togeth-er. Everyone is welcome!